Sioux City Journal

Bilingual education: A success

Posted: Thursday, September 20, 2007

LOS ANGELES -- Contrary to the claims of a Letter to the Editor in the Sept. 2 Journal headlined "Bilingual ed failure," research has shown that dropping bilingual education did not accelerate the English development of California's English learners.

In fact, scholars who have reviewed the scientific research have concluded that bilingual education is more effective than "immersion" in helping children acquire the English they need for school. Four scientific papers have been published in the last two years in professional journals reviewing the research, and they all arrive at this conclusion.

Bilingual education has been a success. -- Stephen Krashen, School of Education, University of Southern California

Story Comments

Bernhart wrote on Sep 27, 2007 6:33 AM:

" Sandra. You are not thinking. Why should I learn a different or second language when the Language I speak is the same language everybody speaks in a 500 mile radius??? This is not true in Europe, where the Independent Countries are smaller than our U.S. States. Also not Everyone In Europe Speaks second Languages. I speak German as well as English and I can tell you that there are different Dialects in German that are not understandable in other parts. "

Sandra wrote on Sep 24, 2007 8:29 AM:

" so happy to see people are out there to monitor my humor. Get a life. "

Keith wrote on Sep 21, 2007 10:31 PM:

" Has anyone considered the fact that any studies done in California deal primarily with English as a second language, which has no place in a sovereign country that has "real" borders? At what rate are those students learning science and math if they haven't mastered basic English before high school? Our education system should be about much more than just learning the language "a leetle beet" before government gives you a free ride in college. To preserve their share of federal funding in the face of the overwhelming obstacle of the illegals California has to "cook the books". We should watch them closely, as they represent our own future. California now builds a school a day to keep up with the invasion. "

FNG wrote on Sep 21, 2007 5:20 PM:

" Sandra; I hope you're trying to be funny in your second post...otherwise that's kind of sad, yet hilarious given the context of your first post. "

Moderate Observer wrote on Sep 21, 2007 3:59 PM:

" I taught in CA and bilingual education was not a success. The average high school graduate has a 6-8th grade reading level. Professors in education have agendas. Some promote blingual education because it gets more programs, specialized teachers, grants, scholarships, etc. Iowa and Nebraska should not emulate California in any aspect of public schools. CA really has dumbed down their graduates. "